Let's Stop Here

"You're right, Blackie kid, my shooting isn't great," Kotaro Hayama said, looking at Daiki Aomine with what seemed like burning flames in his eyes. "But I'm the ace of Shibuya First Junior High, Kotaro Hayama!"

"You bastard!" Daiki Aomine glared at Kotaro Hayama, who was surrounded by a phantom leopard, clearly unsatisfied with his performance just now.

"Alright, don't mind it, we'll get it back next play. Murasakibara, you're up to serve," Shuzo Nijimura clapped his hands, dispelling the stray thoughts from everyone's minds.

"Hai." Atsushi Murasakibara obediently went to the baseline and took the ball from the referee, tossing it to Shuzo Nijimura. Shuzo Nijimura didn't delay for a moment after receiving the ball, quickly bringing it past half-court.

"You played well just now. Honestly, I've known you for so long, I didn't realize you were this capable, Yamanaka," Shuzo Nijimura said with interest, looking at Kazuhiko Yamanaka, who was stepping up to meet him.

Kazuhiko Yamanaka smiled without speaking, sticking close to Shuzo Nijimura and guarding his every move.

"Captain!" Just then, Daiki Aomine managed to break free from Kotaro Hayama's tight defense, gaining half a body length. He reached out to Shuzo Nijimura for the ball. Shuzo Nijimura's eyes flickered, and with a no-look bounce pass, he sent the ball into Daiki Aomine's hands.

"Hey, you're Kotaro Hayama, right? I've got my eye on you," Daiki Aomine said, receiving the ball. He adopted a triple-threat stance, glaring intently at Kotaro Hayama. His aura subtly surged, and upon closer inspection, the outline of a black panther was gradually taking shape.

"You're not calling me Hayama Little Blondie anymore?" Kotaro Hayama retorted with a smile.

"Tch." Daiki Aomine scoffed, not saying more. He dribbled, adjusted his stance, and with a slight push from his calves, his body flashed like blue light.

"He drove past!" The Teiko bench players by the sidelines erupted in cheers.

"No, not yet!" Seijuro Akashi's eyes flashed with a look of denial.

"Don't think you're getting past me!" Kotaro Hayama gritted his teeth, channeling all the power in his legs with all his might, biting down hard on Daiki Aomine.

"Damn it... does this guy think he can lock me down?" Daiki Aomine shot an annoyed glance at Kotaro Hayama, suddenly pulled the ball in, stopped abruptly, and jumped back to create space. He casually tossed the ball towards the basket. "Since I can't drive past, I'll shoot!"

"That's... Ken classmate's move." The Teiko reserve players, accustomed to Ken Kaneki's various shooting styles during practice, exclaimed in shock.

"This idiot won't make it. Do you really think those two big guys in Shibuya First Junior High's paint are dead?" Shogo Haizaki sneered, his gaze towards Daiki Aomine filled with mockery.

Just as Shogo Haizaki predicted, the moment Daiki Aomine shot the ball, Wei Liu, who had been lying in wait nearby, leaped forward to block it, his fingertips brushing the ball just as it left Daiki Aomine's hand.

"Damn it! Murasakibara, the rebound!" Daiki Aomine shouted in annoyance.

"Annoying, you trash, Aomine! I know!" Atsushi Murasakibara stared intently at the basketball in the air, firmly holding his position under the basket. Under the double-team from Wei Liu and Daisuke Narumi, he tipped the ball towards Shintaro Midorima. "Mido-chin! Watch the ball!"

"I know! You guys are too loud!" Shintaro Midorima frowned and leaped towards the falling ball, snatching it into his arms before Keisuke Kobayashi could get there.

"Mido-chin, shoot quickly!" Atsushi Murasakibara urged as soon as Shintaro Midorima got the rebound.

".I have my own ideas!" Shintaro Midorima was almost speechless. As soon as he landed, Keisuke Kobayashi and Kazuhiko Yamanaka double-teamed him. It was hard enough to stand steady under their pressure, and he was supposed to shoot? Shoot what!

"Midorima, here!" Seeing Shintaro Midorima trapped in the double-team, Shuzo Nijimura quickly moved to receive the pass. Shintaro Midorima, seeing this, hurriedly passed the ball out.

"Knew you'd pass!" The moment the ball left his hands, a yellow blur flashed before Shintaro Midorima's eyes. Hayama Little Blondie cleanly stole the ball. "Wei Liu, well done!"

"Damn it!" Shintaro Midorima cursed inwardly, quickly giving chase, but it was futile. Kotaro Hayama easily scored on the fast break, making the score 10-7.

"Shibuya!" "Shibuya!" "Shibuya!" Seeing Shibuya score several consecutive defensive counter-attacks against Teiko, the cheers from the audience on the sidelines grew even more fervent.

"This doesn't look good," Shoichi Imagawa said with a smile, observing the situation on the court. "To be hit with a defensive counter-attack and have the score narrowed precisely when everyone is targeting you... it looks like it's going to be tough from here on out."

Makoto Hanamiya, looking unconcerned, blew a bubble and said casually, "Tough? A team with Ken Kaneki is tough? It's more like Shibuya First Junior High is the one in trouble. Ken Kaneki isn't exactly a kind and lenient person."

"But since the game restarted, we haven't seen Ken Kaneki do anything, have we?" Shoichi Imagawa pouted skeptically.

"Who knows? But I have a premonition that the most terrifying scene is about to unfold. I'm a kind-hearted person, I can't bear to watch such a tragic scene," Makoto Hanamiya said, standing up to walk towards the sidelines. "I'm leaving, I need to get my medicine changed. If you're not coming with me, be sure to tell me how many points Teiko won by when I get back."

"You can just read about that in the newspaper," Shoichi Imagawa said, standing up as Makoto Hanamiya's intention to leave was clear. "After taking a beating from Ken Kaneki, you've certainly gained a deeper understanding of him. Let's go, I'll accompany you to get your medicine changed."

At this moment, in the spectator seats opposite Shoichi Imagawa and Makoto Hanamiya, the Aida father and daughter were also discussing something in low voices.

"That power forward for Shibuya First Junior High is quite good," Ito Aida commented with a sharp eye. "His defense is tenacious, his off-ball movement is very active, and he understands the concept of on-ball and off-ball screens. If he hadn't blocked that Blackie kid just now, Kotaro Hayama wouldn't have had the chance for that fast break."

"Since the game restarted, Ken Kaneki seems to have been lying low," Reiko Aida asked curiously. "Shibuya First Junior High has good momentum right now, they might even win. Look, Dad, Shibuya First Junior High just made another defensive stop."

On the court at this moment, Atsushi Murasakibara was preparing to post up Daisuke Narumi, but due to his haste, he didn't protect the ball well and was stripped by Kotaro Hayama. The Teiko players quickly scrambled back to defend.

"Kaneki, come back." Shuzo Nijimura saw Ken Kaneki still standing dazed on the opponent's half and was about to remind him to return to defense. However, looking at Ken Kaneki's expression, an instinctive fear made Shuzo Nijimura's words catch in his throat.

"Dad, Ken Kaneki isn't coming back to defend. Has he given up?" Reiko Aida asked, her confusion growing as she watched Shibuya First Junior High play four-on-five offense while Ken Kaneki stood motionless in the backcourt.

"Here, Reiko," Ito Aida said, looking at Ken Kaneki's expressionless face on the court. "How's your Chinese coming along?"

"Chinese? It's okay, why Dad?" Reiko Aida looked at Ito Aida curiously. "Dad, you're not going to test my academic performance now, are you?"

"How could I, you idiot? I'm going to teach you an ancient Chinese saying," Ito Aida said with a laugh, then his expression turned serious. "A gentleman keeps his skills hidden, waiting for the right moment to act."

"Dad, you mean..." Reiko Aida seemed to sense something and ventured a guess.

"I don't know why Ken Kaneki hasn't made a move until now, but his pride won't allow him to endure any longer," Ito Aida said, watching the golden light that stretched across the entire court, and sighed. "So... it's time!"

Almost simultaneously, Ken Kaneki's low voice sounded from behind the Shibuya First Junior High players: "I say, everyone. Let's end this here!"

It's a bit late today. I just got home after entertaining my boss. I'll be a bit later. I'll try for three updates today, at least two. Please, everyone, don't put the book on hold. The readership data has dropped a lot. I'm begging you all.